In Judges 6, we saw that Gideon’s story was interrupted twice. This chapter also features two interludes before Gideon’s final battle with the Midianites.
Quarterly
Four times, from a different perspective, we see an illustration of the interval between the first and second coming of Christ.
Gideon’s calling is a depiction of the first coming of Christ. Gideon’s victory over the Midianites in the Valley of Jezreel foreshadows His return (Ps. 2:8-9; 1 Cor. 15:25).
In between lies the interruption in salvation history, illustrated in four ways by an intermezzo in the story of Gideon:
- Gideon must tear down the altar of Baal in his father’s house (6:25-32).
- Gideon requests a double sign and places a fleece on the threshing floor (6:36-40).
- Gideon must reduce his army to a small group of 300 men (7:2-8).
- Gideon embarks on a secret mission, and during his concealed stay in the enemy camp, he hears about the victory he will achieve (7:9-15).
Each story highlights a different aspect of the interruption, while the main theme remains the same: the current interval between the first coming and the second coming of Christ.